EREDIVISIE
When was the last time Santiago Giménez scored?
‘Chaco’ Giménez, the player’s father, came out in defence of the Feyenoord forward after goal drought criticism grows in the Netherlands.
Santiago Giménez’s early 2024 couldn’t have unfolded in a more disappointing manner. The Feyenoord forward finds himself amidst a goal-scoring crisis that has only worsened this month. The Mexican’s last goal dates back to 10 March in the victory against Heracles. In the heavy defeat against Ajax, ‘Bebote’ failed to find the net, attracting strong criticism from a significant portion of Dutch analysts and even a club legend. His father, former footballer ‘Chaco’ Giménez, had to come to his son’s defense.
“We don’t grow when things become easy, we grow when we face our challenges,” wrote the former Mexican national team player in a social media post alongside a photo with the Feyenoord star. Giménez is experiencing a start to the year tainted by some bad luck. Although he still leads the Eredivisie’s top scorers table with 21 goals, since January he has only managed to score four times, one of which was in the Europa League.
His poor form has even garnered strong criticism from some former legends of the Rotterdam club.
“They want Giménez to score all the time, but I wouldn’t give him the ball at all because you know it won’t work. It’s really strange, unbelievable,” commented Willem Van Hanegem, a former player from the 1970s, on the AD Willem&Wessel podcast.
Copa América and transfer market on Giménez horizon
Giménez’s rough patch comes at a crucial end to the season for the player. With the Copa América just around the corner, ‘Bebote’ is expected to be one of Mexico’s standard-bearers at the event in the United States. Additionally, the forward has been closely followed throughout the season by some top European clubs, such as Real Madrid and Arsenal, with his name highlighted for this summer.
Undoubtedly, the goal drought will influence the decisions of some, but with the CONMEBOL tournament ahead, anything can happen. Giménez still has just over two months to reverse a situation that has become critical due to the quality he has shown. Feyenoord needs the best from ‘Bebote’ to secure a Champions League spot.